Review: Look Fantastic 1st Birthday Beauty Box

Look Fantastic are currently running a special 1st Birthday promotion where you can receive a FREE September Beauty Box worth £55 when you spend £55 or more! Usually their boxes are between £11.25 and £15 depending on your chosen subscription.

I was sent one of their Birthday boxes to review and was impressed to see it was packed full of products!

The box I received contained:

• Phyto - Phytokeratine Extreme (leave in conditioner)
• Tan Worx - Tan Maintainer
• Codage - Creme Gommante
• Sebastian Penetraitt shampoo and conditioner 
•  Bliss - Fabulous Foaming Face Wash
• Caudalie - Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet
• Caudalie - Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum

I'm really looking forward to trying these out, especially the Phyto conditioner formulated for dry hair as my hair is in deep need of moisture!

Do you subscribe to any beauty boxes? What do you think of Look Fantastic's offering?

Review: Liz Earle Superskin Body Cream

With summer now in full swing I have been trying to spend a little more time on my body skincare routine. I am usually pretty lazy in the winter as I hide behind layers, but despite the fact I reverted to black tights over the last few days as the weather in London has been far from sunny, I want to make sure that my skin is well prepped for all those little shorts, summer dresses and bikinis! As I am not likely to get much sun this summer I will also be fake tanning and want to ensure my skin is in great condition so I can get the most from my tan.

In the last 2 weeks I have been absolutely loving Liz Earle’s Superskin Body Cream*. I tried it a few years ago and am so happy I have rediscovered it as it is absolutely amazing for hydrating your skin. The rich cream glides on smoothly and despite being super moisturising doesn’t feel too thick or sticky. Formulated with 25% plant oils it does tend to leave behind an oily layer on the skin, but it doesn’t feel too heavy and ensures my legs are super smooth even 12 hours after application. I love applying it at night, especially after my shower, as my skin feels amazing in the morning and using it a few nights before I fake tan also guarantees a smoother application and no patchiness!

With East African shea butter, organic rosehip oil, antioxidant cranberry seed oil and pomegranate extract, natural source vitamin E, plus the scent of neroli, this luxurious cream is designed to help more mature or very dry skin look and feel visibly plump and smooth. Personally, I think it is suitable for anyone looking for that extra infusion of moisture and would highly recommend it for all skin types.

Before I write any of my posts I always check reviews on websites to get a general idea of what others purchasing the product thought and to highlight anything I may not have considered. The reviews for the Liz Earle Superskin Body Cream are great, though some people were not enamoured by the scent. I wouldn’t say this is a moisturiser that I would buy for the smell alone, but it is not too strong or overpowering. The results on the skin are well worth it and I always see a scent as a bonus to a good product. Many people love the neroli smell and I am fan!

The Liz Earle Superskin Body Cream retails for £33 for 200ml here.

 

Home: Dining

Over the past year I have definitely been experiencing home envy when looking through countless Pinterest and Instagram posts of cosy living rooms and glossy kitchens. As I always need a project on the go I decided that rather than feeling restless (and in lieu of having the opportunity to move) I redesigned our living and dining area to make it a little more modern. I previously featured snippets of this in my post here, but today I wanted to look closer at our dining table as it is (finally!) almost complete.

With a grey, blush pink and white palette in mind I wanted a sleek dining area that was stylish, but comfortable. Having picked out the Bramante extendable grey lacquer table from Made I paired it with two different styles of grey upholstered button chairs that fitted well with our new Chesterfield sofas.

As I was trying to keep to a tight budget it has taken a while for all the pieces to come together as many were purchased from various sale sites such as Achica and Casafina, which have beautiful stock, but long waiting times that can be frustrating. In fact, I am still waiting for our white and grey marble salt and pepper mills (to match the placemats I made using glass mats and vinyl contact paper), which I ordered over 2 months ago!

 

I adore fresh flowers and knew that I wanted a large square vase to be the centrepiece of my table. I always try to buy flowers when we have people over… and often buy them just for myself as they make any space look instantly more welcoming. I ordered this cube vase on Amazon (here) which was amazing value, but in hindsight I do wish I had purchased a slightly smaller one. This arrangement was made using one bunch of pink and 2 bunches of white roses and took me over half an hour to put together… not even mentioning the number of thorns I had to dodge while arranging them into a dome!

The cutlery and glasses are both from Villeroy and Boch, which I love for their amazing quality. We chose the La Divina glassware range (currently on sale here!!) for our wedding list and have received lots of compliments on them, especially the ridiculously large red wine glasses! They can be very dangerous…

To add a little bit of texture I added some grey and cream patterned napkins and ceramic napkin rings to our set. These were both from Zara Home, which also have amazing sales and are perfect for picking up little finishing touches such as unusual door handles or linens. To add a little extra colour I completed our settings with some vintage pink and silver candlestick holders, which I found on Etsy.

I hope you guys enjoy these little home posts as I have really loved seeing inspiration on so many different blogs and wanted to post a little of my own to show that you can get Pinterest worthy living spaces on a budget if you are willing to invest a little time!

 

Review: No7 Early Defence Eye Cream

I am sure that many women in our parents' generation would not even have thought about anti-ageing skincare in their 20's, but as we learn more about the science of the skin it becomes evident that prevention is even more important than targeting change that is already occurring! Though we are told it is never too early to start it can sometimes be difficult for those in our 20s to find the right skin care. We no longer want the drying anti-pimple products aimed at teens (though we may still be getting plenty of blemishes that we would love to zap), but intensive anti-ageing products aimed at the older generation maybe a little too rich. I was therefore excited to hear that No7 had launched a range specifically aimed for ladies from their 20s to mid 30s to keep young skin looking younger for longer!

No7 Early Defence Skincare (consisting of Day, Night and Eye Creams) works as a ‘stepping stone’ to help in the transition from everyday skincare to proactively delaying the signs of ageing. The range offers No7’s new and most effective patent pending daily protection technology, ‘Double Defence’ that, in combination with No7’s unbeatable 5* UVA technology, gives skin advanced daily protection from the sun and environmental stress to help it look younger for longer.

I was kindly sent the No7 Early Defence Eye Cream* to test out a few weeks ago. It  is especially designed for the delicate areas around your eyes, enriched with Vitamin C to help reduce puffiness and dark circles, for brighter more beautiful eyes. This cream has a very light texture so it doesn't feel too heavy around the eyes. It sinks in quickly and is perfect for use before makeup. It leaves my skin feeling hydrated and smooth.

No7 Early Defence Eye Cream (£13.50 for 15ml) is exclusively available at Boots stores across the UK and online here.

La Roche Posay Anthelios

With the hottest day of the year so far already with us in April it is definitely a good time to talk about sunscreen! Seeing all the bare legs and shoulders at lunchtimes all across the City definitely spurred me to test out La Roche Posay's new Anthelios* range. Having actually been foolish enough in my younger years to have to go to hospital due to a severe sunburn I am a huge advocate of using a high factor SPF to protect from the sun! Nothing ages you more than sun exposure so it is incredibly important to make sure your skin is well shielded all year round, but especially as the weather gets warmer!

I was really interested in trying it out the Anthelios range as it promises a high degree of sun protection for sensitive skin. Being super pale (and learning from the above mentioned bad experiences) I go for the highest SPF possible, however I hate feeling like I am wearing a heavy sunscreen and am always on the search for the best of both worlds.

For the face I have been trialling the Anthelios XL Anti-Shine Dry Touch Gel-Cream SPF50+. This formulation doesn't feel at all heavy, is non-comedogenic and sets matte so it is perfect to use under makeup. It acts as a great base as it sinks into the skin quickly and sets to a dry touch while being water resistant. It has no parabens or  fragrance, just a faint, clean scent.

For the body I chose to go for the total opposite with the Anthelios XL Nutritive Oil SPF50+. I have never used a tanning oil before as they tend to have minimal protection (and if anything are generally used by those looking to increase their tan and sun exposure), however this oil is completely different. It can be used on the face and body to nourish and protect the skin. It has a dry oil formulation so sinks into the skin quickly without feeling sticky or too 'oily'. While still being paraben free and water resistant it does have a slight fragrance.

Have you tried the Anthelios range? What do you think of it? I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine safely! :)

Review: REN Keep Young and Beautiful Firm and Lift Eye Cream

It's somewhat ironic that all through last year I was on the quest for the perfect eye cream and at the beginning of this year I accidentally stumbled on to REN's ideal offering. Being on the wrong side of 25 I have noticed some fine lines forming around my eyes and wanted a cream that would help hydration, improve dark circles, tone and prevent formation of further lines (so not asking much). I have struggled to find a formulation that was suitable as the heavier creams were oily and gave me milia and the lighter gels left the area dehydrated.

I picked this cream up on a whim when shopping in SpaceNK as I have really enjoyed many of REN's products in the past. REN's Keep Young and Beautiful Firm and Lift Eye Cream promises to be an ultra lifting, firming and replenishing eye cream that dramatically reduces the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet and deep expression lines around the delicate eye area. It is moisturising without being heavy and still feels very light on the skin while giving deep hydration. Just one pump is enough for both eyes and I have found that the 15ml tube has already lasted me 3 months - so a little definitely goes a long way. The only negative is it's difficult to tell how much product is left in the packaging... I'm hoping there's a little more before I have to repurchase!

The REN Keep Young and Beautiful Firm and Lift Eye Cream is £28 from the REN website or SpaceNK.

OOTD: Lace and Lime

While scrolling through the Topshop website recently I noticed a very familiar looking lace skirt, which is very similar to one I absolutely loved wearing on my honeymoon last Summer!

It's such a gorgeous, versatile piece that can easily take you from day to night. In the photo above I paired it with a simple green camisole, similar to this one from Oasis.

Topshop's latest offering is a lovely cream lace number that's perfect for Spring! You can find it on their website here for £75.

Dry Skin Saviours

Since coming back from skiing last week I have noticed that my skin has become really dry. Even though I made sure to load up on moisturiser and SPF every day while on the slopes the mix of altitude, sun, snow and wind definitely did more than simply bring out my freckles.

With the freezing temperatures in the UK I thought that perhaps some of you may still be suffering so wanted to share my recent skin saviours, especially if your skin is feeling dry and lacklustre.

Cream cleansers are great when your skin is feeling sensitive as they will easily remove dirt and makeup without stripping skin of its natural moisture. Lately I have been using Green People's Gentle Cleanse and I absolutely love it! This product is extremely gentle, while being a really effective cleanser with a beautiful, delicate rose scent. I would highly recommend this for those with sensitive skin, allergies or skin ailments such as eczema as it is organic, paraben and alcohol free.

Green People Gentle Cleanse and Make-Up Remover (£18.95)

Another product I have been using is the Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix. These pads are super handy to use as they are presoaked in the solution, which contains glycolic acid to help resurface the skin, hyaluronic acid to moisturise and refresh and blue daisy to calm and soothe. With 60 pads in one tub these are great value and really work to brighten and refresh the appearance of skin.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix (£12.95)

As a moisturiser in the morning I have also recently started using Origins Plantscription. I am already a big fan of Origins so I was excited to see how this cream would work when it arrived for review. This moisturiser feels fairly rich, so only a little is needed for each application. It melts into the skin really well and leaves it feeling hydrated and smooth, without looking oily. Coming from a science background I am not totally sure whether the raspberry stem cell technology is something I am wholly convinced by, but looking at the feedback on the website it seems that customers really have noticed a difference in the anti-aging benefits!

Origins Plantscription SPF25 (£46)

At night I have been using a lovely moisturiser from Vichy. This cream is great for any age as it is designed to smooth and illuminate all skin types. This cream feels very light and soft as it melts into the skin leaving it feeling smooth and healthy.

Vichy Idealia (£22, but on sale for £18.70)

As an intensive overnight treat I have also been using the Origins Drink Up Intensive face mask. This product is absolutely amazing to give your skin a boost of moisture. Japanese Seaweed repairs skin's barrier while you sleep to prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging. When my skin is not misbehaving it tends to be a little on the oilier side so I was anxious when I first used this product, but it really is fantastic and I would recommend it for any skin type.

Origins Drink Up Intensive (£20)

So there we have my little list of my current skin saviours. Have you tried any of these products before? Do you have any favourite products to treat your skin when it's feeling dry and sensitive? xxx

Yon-Ka Skincare

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With the weather becoming ever colder I have noticed that my skin has started reacting to the disparity between inside (tropical, especially on the train where I am currently typing this) and the outside (Arctic). If you have been noticing a few dry patches creeping in, despite maintaining your normal routine, now is the time to inject some serious moisture into your skin and make sure that it’s barrier function is not compromised by all the hazards that lie in store for us this winter!

A new skincare brand I have recently been trying out is Yon-Ka, a natural collection that aims to capture the greatest benefits of plants, fruits and aromatherapy. They have an impressive range that is suitable for any skin type, even the most sensitive!

Even though my skin is oily around the T-zone I prefer using cream cleansers (especially during the colder months) to ensure that while my skin is thoroughly cleansed it is no way stripped of its natural moisture. The Yon-Ka Nettoyant Cleansing Cream does this beautifully as it effortlessly dissolves any impurities (be it makeup or city air pollutants) while being easy to rinse off with tepid water, leaving behind no residue; simply skin that feels soft and comfortable. The extracts of peppermint also help to make this cream feel refreshing on sensitized skin, so you can easily use it both day and night.

As one very wise woman said (CarolineHirons is my oracle when it comes to skincare) during the winter months you need to layer your skin with moisture until it can’t absorb any more. If, like me, this doesn’t sound feasible as you know that your skin will start to look greasy the trick is to use creams that are hydrating, but not necessarily oily, such as the Yon-Ka Crème 93 for combination skin. This cream is rich enough to provide your skin with the injection of moisture that it craves, but still leaves a relatively matte finish on the skin. It’s a great base for makeup too!

You can shop Yon-KA products in the UK here. 

Have you ever tried Yon-KA skincare? What products are you currently using to soothe winter skin? 

Dr Jart comes to Boots

You may remember last year I reviewed my top pick of the BB cream phenomenon - the originally brilliant and authentic Dr Jart+. If not you can refresh your memory here. My personal favourite of the two I tried was the Dr Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm.

I was so excited to attend a recent event to celebrate the launch of Dr Jart products in the UK, exclusively in Boots. There are four creams to chosoe from depending on your skin care needs.

The Premium Beauty Balm (£24) cream provides high SPF40 protection with anti-oxidants. It gives a dewy, low coverage which helps fight ageing and is particularly suitable for those over 30.

The Water Infuse Beauty Balm (£18) gives a natural, bright and glossy application for natural, fresh looking skin which controls sebum production from sweat preventing streaking. It looks incredibly natural on the skin and keeps your skin hydrated for hours. I often use this instead of my moisturiser on no makeup days to add a little bit of a tint and a youthful glow. Though I would not recommend it for oily skins I would say this cream is perfect for those aged 20-35.

Dr Jart's Platinum Beauty Balm (£22) gives high coverage in a light application and is particularly suitable for those in their 30s.

I was recommended to try the Regenerating Beauty Balm (£21) for my skin concerns (sensitive, combination and redness).  This cream provides slightly more coverage while making skin look brighter. As the name suggests it also helps to regenerate skin cells with active ingredients including jojoba seed oil and snail secretion... yup! This cream is recommended for the 20 to 35 age group.

So there we have the pick of the Beauty Balm crop. If you are a fan of BBs or tinted moistuisers I highly recommend you try these out. I often replace my foundation with BBs, especially in the summer and can definitely feel the difference in my skin!

Have you tried any Dr Jart+ Beauty Balms? Which is your favourite formulation? xxx

Neom Inspiration

After waxing lyrical about Neom's beautiful reed diffuser (check out my review here) I was keen to continue my sensory journey with Neom's organic body and hand creams.

Neom's luxurious Organic Hand Cream is packed with anti-oxidising extracts which are great for anti-ageing. They include Acai extract and nourishing Argan oil, known to aid collagen production and tighten the skin. It penetrates rapidly, leaving hands super-soft, smooth and non-greasy. It is a fairly thick cream, but you only need a very small amount to hydrate and release the gorgeous scent. This hand cream comes in a handbag friendly size of 75ml and can purchased for £20 here.


The Neom Organic Body Cream comes in a hefty 200ml jar that has made a permanent home on my bedside table. The cream is rich and luxurious, boasting ingredients such as antioxidant Acai extract, Cocoa Bean to promote skin elasticity plus Rosehip Oil, Avocado Oil and soothing Almond Oil which are packed with essential fatty acids. I prefer to use this cream straight after showering to lock in moisture and makes sure my skin remains hydrated. However, the scent also makes it perfect for the mornings as a re-energising and uplifting little treat.


Have you tried any of the products from Neom's Inspiration line? What are your favourites? xxx

OOTD: Fantasy Peplum

I do love a bit of peplum, so much so that I decided to double up on the trend. I have been eyeing up this Chanel-esque blazer in Zara for quite a while and am surprised by how well the shape fits with one of Zara's classic cream frill waisted tops. 

To toughen the look up and add some contrast I paired the super girlie top with my favourite black disco pants and some patent leather ankle boots.

 Fantasy blazer - Zara (£89.99 here), Peplum top - Zara (£29.99 here), Disco Pants - American Apparel (£70 here), Boots - Dorothy Perkins.

Are you a fan of the peplum shape? What do you wear yours with? I am yet to try it with a pencil skirt, but I am sure a 'work it out' post will follow when I finally do! xxx

L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate

Many moons ago I blogged about the fabulous Pivoine Flora range from L'Occitaine (if you missed it you can check it out here). It was the first peony fragrance I had tried and I fell head over heels on the first spritz. I am so excited that L'Occitane have now extended the range with their beautiful limited edition Pivoine Delicate collection.

The collection includes a mix of fragrance, makeup and hand cream all delicately scented with peony.

All the products come in lovely, pink and girlie packaging with the signature L'Occitane vintage feel.

The Pivoine Delicate eau de toilette (£35ml for 75ml here) is inspired by a rare peony flower found in the Drome region of Provence. For me it is the perfect fragrance for Spring. It's light and fresh, but still sweet, blending the softness of peony and rose petals with the green transparency of lily of the valley in a luminous floral accord with a soft, powdery finish.

 

L'Occitane is perhaps most lauded for its amazing hand creams and the Pivoine Delicate hand cream (£14 for 75ml here) is a fantastic addition to the collection. The cream is beautifully scented and fairly thick, but sinks in quickly without leaving a greasy residue.

I also really like the packaging of this cream and prefer it to the traditional L'Occitane metal tubes. To dispense all you have to do is twist the cap, so there is no chance of losing the lid, or fiddling with caps while your hands are still a bit slippery! Perfect for your handbag and application on the go :).

The Pivoine Delicate Shimmering Powder (£22 here) is a fun product to use as a finishing touch to your look. The bottle is absolutely gorgeous and with its cute retro design it would look very ladylike on any dressing table. Formulated with natural-origin ingredients, the puff releases a fine mist of pink and silver iridescence to beautify the body and hair and leave a silky, satin finish on the skin. One thing I would advice is to make sure you tap it before using it as the powder can get trapped in the nozzle, so one squeeze can lead to...

Yup, I made quite the mess when I was swatching it. Though my sofa has a beautiful sparkle to it now ;). After this incident I have made sure to tap the bottom every time I have used it and it has worked as intended, releasing a light cloud of shimmering, fragrant, finely milled powder.

I love a bit of sparkle. So pretty! I may actually go and have a quick sprinkle before going out tonight... don't judge me ;p.

Have you tried L'Occitane's Pivoine Delicate collection? Are you a fan of peony fragrances? What are your favourite products from this range? xxx

*Products mentioned were sent to me for review consideration*

Naked Gold Leaf

I have wanted to make a tutorial using the new Sleek Molten Metal eyeshadow duo for quite a while. The colours are beautiful and perfectly lend themselves to an effortless smokey eye!


Products used:
NARS Sheer Glow foundation
Bobbi Brown corrector
MAC MSF natural
Chanel Bronzer Universal
NARS Sin blush

UDPP
Urban Decay Naked Palette - naked, buck, smog
*Sleek Molten Metal metallic cream eyeshadow - Gold Leaf

MAC vanilla eyeshadow
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in bourbon
L'ancome Hypnose Mascara
YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick in No. 1

Products marked with * were sent to me for review purposes.

 Have you tried the new Sleek metallic eyeshadow duo? Let me know what you think! xxx

Anatomicals- Perfect hands and feet (just in case you're papped by heat).

Help the paw-
Do you never have to lift a finger to do anything? Have your hands never been in a washing up bowl? Do you never shake hands with anyone unless you're wearing white gloves? In short,are you HRH the queen of England? If you are, we'd just like to remind you that the corgis need a walk and to say that you have no need for this ultra soothing cream. If, however, your blood's more red than blue, buy tubes of the stuff. after all, look at all those dirty plates in the sink.

This hand cream is wonderfully rich, and a little will really go along way. It contains shea butter, sweet almond oil, vitamin E, green tea and licorice extracts, which make it deeply moisturising and perfect if, like me, you absolutely hate the feeling of dry hands (when my hands are dry I get that goosebumpy nails down a blackboard feeling). The scent is a little strange, but not off putting. It reminds me of E.L.F's all over colour sticks or sugar orange sweets from back in the day, but I would not describe it as overpowering and it fades quite quickly.

After using it for the past week my hands definitely feel soft and smooth. Since it is so rich I find it best as an overnight treatment as it does not sink into the skin straight away. It is not super oily, but there is definitely some residue left on my hands for a while (I personally like this as it continues hydrating), but while on the go it can be annoying, especially when turning those round door handles, as I found to my dismay :( hehe.

Soothing foot cream-
"I love you with the ferocity of an exploding thousand megaton nuclear bomb. your eyes are like deep pools I could jump naked into and save you from drowning. you are my rock, my pebble, my grain of sand on the beach of life where I dream of us walking hand in hand forever." if you think these lines are cheesy, take your shoes off after a hard day of being on your feet and you'll then know exactly why you need this ultra cooling, refreshing, soothing and deodorising cream. some new tights or socks wouldn't hurt either.

Feet- not a lovely topic to discuss as I generally think feet are horrible, but this cream does what it says on its wacky little box. It is a deeply moisturising and soothing foot cream containing vitamin E and peppermint oil with a refreshing mint scent.

With summer just around the corner it is time to make our tootsies presentable for strutting in sandals and wedges or even just lounging in flip-flops. This cream certainly helps to mend yucky cracked heels and other problem areas. Once again, I love to put this on after a shower or bath and just before bed to keep my feet looking smooth and smelling, well, fresh. I even used it on my legs as they started to flake a little when I got back from Dubai (silly sunburn) and it worked wonders. It is also good to use if someone is feeling generous enough to give you a foot rub ;).

This fantastic set, with 80ml of each cream, can be purchased on the anatomicals website for the very reasonable price of £3.50. I know, I was pretty impressed too! The site has a good, affordable range of products (made in the UK) and really funny descriptions/blurbs for each item. Just click on the link to have a giggle!